Traveling suction cleaner for textile mills



y 4, 1962 H. SOHLER 3,045,274

TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 12, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR, Hu BERT SQHLt-R ATTORNEY-5 July 24, 1962 H. SOHLER TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 12, 1960' 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Hum-=21 So H LER BY 611%, (whm ATTORNEYS H. SOHLER 3,045, 274 TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MILLS July 24, 1962 6. Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 12, 1960 INVENTOR: HUBEET SOHLE-E ATTORNEYS July 241',- 1962 H. SQHLER 3,045,274

TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER" FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 12",, I960 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. HUBERT Sou-nae ATTORNEYS July 24, 1962 H. SOHLER 3,045,274

TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 12, 1960 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 50$ am 87a,

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July 214, I962 H. SOHLER 3,045,274

TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MILLS Filed July 12', 1.960 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. HUBERT SoHu-ER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,045,274 TRAVELING SUCTION CLEANER FOR TEXTILE MILLS Hubert Solder, Maschinenfabrilr, Wangen, Allgau, Germany Filed July 12, M60, Ser. No. 42,381 Claims priority, application Germany July 15, 1959 13 Claims. (Cl. 15-312) This invention relates to apparatus for disposing of accumulations of lint and other loose foreign matter which normally accumulate on the floor and on parts of textile machines and other surfaces in a textile mill.

As is well known, in most textile operations, fly is generated by the textile material being processed on various machines and is suspended in the air and/or settles as line on various parts of the machines, on the floor and on other surfaces within the mill. Various types of blowing devices or suction devices, or combina tions thereof, have been used for blowing air onto the machines and other surfaces and/or sucking air thereinto at points adjacent the machines and floors of the mill to remove lint and the like therefrom. More recently, traveling suction cleaning equipment has been provided with collection means movable with the traveling cleaner for collecting lint sucked thcreinto while filtering the lint from the air during the collection thereof.

While such prior types of traveling suction cleaning devices have performed quite well in many respects, the filtering and collecting devices thereof have been somewhat of a problem because of line becoming matted against, and restricting the flow of air through, the filtering device. Whenever the flow of air is restricted,

, it is apparent that this reduces the force of the suction current. Also, efiicient removal of lint from collecting devices of this character has been hampered because of the tendency of textile fibers to coalesce and cling to the walls of the collection devices.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved apparatus for disposing of lint and other foreign matter in a textile mill which comprises means for creating traveling air suction currents adjacent textile machines and the floor therebeneath, moving the suction currents along predetermined paths to attract and entrap foreign matter in the suction currents, conveying the suction currents and foreign matter entrapped thereby to a filtering surface through which the air passes while entrapping the lint thereagainst, wiping the entrapped lint from the filtering surface, collecting the lint in a collection chamber, periodically opening the collection chamber to empty the contents therefrom, and producing a blast of air in the collection chamber to assist in the removal of the contents therefrom.

It is a more specific object of this invention to provide apparatus which comprises an overhead, rail mounted traveling suction fan having one or more suction tubes or conduits communicating with the inlet thereof. A filter, carried by the fan, entraps lint received from the conduits as the air flows through the filter. Wiping means moves against the filter, continuously or intermittently, and wipes the line from the filter into a collection chamber which is also carried by the fan, and means is provided for periodically opening said chamber to remove the collected lint therefrom.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for producing a moving current of air within said chamber, preferably in the form of a blast of air, at least during those intervals in which said chamber is open, to assist in removing collected lint from the chamber.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description pro- 2 ceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a first embodiment of my improved combination suction and blowing cleaner showing the same mounted upon a track located above a row of textile machines, with portions of the fan housing broken away for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation of the traveling cleaner looking at the right-hand side of the upper portion of FIGURE 1, but omitting the dependent tubes from the other siide thereof and also omitting the textile machine;

FIGURE 3 is a view looking at the opposite side of thetraveling cleaner from that shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged isometric view of the improved traveling cleaner with the dependent suction and blowing conduits being omitted, with parts being broken away at the suction compartment and collection chamber, and showing a portion of a stationary receptacle adjacent the front end of the trackway;

FIGURE 5 is .a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the traveling cleaner, showing the track and carriage in elevation, and being taken substantially along line 5-5 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevation of the traveling cleaner, With parts broken away, looking at the opposite end thereof from that shown in FIGURE 1 and also looking at the left-hand side of FIGURES 3 and 5;

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view similar to FIGURE 4, but showing a second embodiment of the invention including modified forms of door means for the traveling collection chamber and closure means between said chamber and the suction compartment;

FIGURE 8 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is another isometric view similar to FIG- URE 4, but showing a third embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 10 is a front end elevation of the structure shown in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged side elevation similar to FIGURE 3, with parts broken away, but showing a fourth embodiment of the invention, wherein the filter wiping means is intermittently driven.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the first form of the invention shown in FIGURES 1-6 is shown in the form of a traveling combination suction and blowing cleaner which, in FIGURE 1, is movable along a trackway or rail construction 10 suitably supported above a row of textile machines 11, only one of which is shown in the form of a roving frame. It is apparent that the traveling cleaner may be used for cleaning the floor and many different types of textile machines, such as spinning frames, carding machines, twisters, winders, knitting machines, etc.

The trackway 10 comprises a pair of spaced parallel rails or tracks 12, 12 supported on brackets 13 suitably mounted upon posts 14, only one of which is shown. A wheeled carriage 15 is movable along the trackway l0. Carriage 15 includes a gear housing 16 in which pairs of wheels 20, 22 are mounted, and which are suitably driven by means such as that disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,011,- 76 3 granted to W. B. Hodge et al. on August 20, 1935. In order to reverse the direction of rotation of the wheels or rollers 20, 22, a shifting rod 23 projects from opposite ends of the gear housing 16.

Carriage 15- also includes an electric motor 24 which drives the mechanism within housing 16 in substantially themanner disclosed in said patent, and which also carries and drives an impeller or fan 25 disposed within a main .fan housing broadly designated at 26. Fan housing 26 includes opposed side walls 27, 28, upper and lower walls 31, 32 and opposed end walls 33, 34. End walls 33, 34 may be termed as respective front and rear walls for orientation purposes. Fan housing 26 is divided into a blowing compartment 35 and a suction compartment 36 by means of a substantially horizontally disposed and substantially flat filter or screen 37, the frame of which is suitably secured to opposed side walls and end walls 27, 28, 33, 34. Thus, impeller 25 is enclosed only within the lower or blower compartment 35.

The top wall 31 of fan housing 26 has a relatively large ingress opening 40 therein which establishes communication between suction compartment 36 and a manifold or duct 41 overlying and being suitably secured to the top wall 31. In fact, the manifold 41 may be considered as a part of the suction compartment 36.

Opposed side portions of manifold 41 extend beyond the main fan housing 26 and are provided with downwardly and outwardly directed openings or air inlets 42, 43, 44 to which the upper ends of respective suction tubes, sleeves or conduits 45, 46, 47 are communicatively connected. The lower portions of opposed side walls 27, 28 of main fan housing 26 are provided with respective pairs of air outlets 50, 51 and 52, 53 to which respective blowing tubes, sleeves or conduits 54, 55, 56, 57 are communicatively connected.

It is important that at least one of the suction tubes terminates in close proximity to the floor F upon which rests the textile machines 11, and the free ends or openings of the remaining tubes may terminate adjacent the various parts of the machines past which the traveling cleaner moves. In this instance, suction tube 47, which is preferably of a flexible material, terminates in the form of a nozzle 60, closely adjacent the floor F. The remaining tubes 45, 46 and 54-57 are provided with respective nozzles or nozzle openings 61-66 at or adjacent their free ends, which are positioned so as to travel adjacent various parts of the machine to be cleaned.

In this instance, suction nozzle 61 moves in a path above a sliver feed roll 70, suction nozzle 62 moves in a path closely adjacent the delivery rolls of a drafting zone 71, blowing nozzle opening 63 moves in a path above and rearwardly of the drafting zone 71, and nozzle opening 64, which is in the form of an elongate slot provided in the lower portion of tube 55, directs air downwardly toward sliver guide rolls 72 and feed rolls 70 of machines 11. Nozzle opening 65 is formed in the inner surface of blowing tube 56 and directs air inwardly toward yarn packages 73 and adjacent elements of machines 11, and blowing nozzle opening 66 directs air downwardly toward the fiyers 74 of the machine, for example.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that, as the traveling cleaner moves along trackway 10, the rotary impeller 25 creates a continuous suction current at each suction nozzle 60, 61, 62 while creating a continuous blowing current at each blowing nozzle 63-65. Thus, blowing nozzles 63-65 dislodge lint and other light material from corresponding parts of the machines 11 over which carriage 1'5 moves, while the suction currents at the floor nozzle cause lint and other light material upon the floor F to be drawn thereinto through the tube 47, inlet 44, through manifold 41 and into the suction compartment 36.

The suction nozzles 61, 62 draw lint thereinto from the respective machine parts embodied in the feed rolls 70 and the drafting zone 71, from whence it is conveyed through the respective suction tubes 45, 46, through suction inlets 42, 43, nad through manifold 41 into the suction compartment 36 of main fan housing 26. A medial portion of manifold 41 is preferably provided with a transverse partition 80 therein to assist in directing lint and other light material from the manifold 41 into suction compartment 36. It is apparent that lint and other light material drawn into suction compartment 36 is drawn against the upper surface of filter 37 where it is filtered from the air before the air is exhausted through the air outlets 50-53 and the respective blowing tubes 54-57.

In order to clean the filter, to maintain efiicient suction in the suction tubes 45, 46, 47, and to collect and store the lint and other light material during movement of the traveling cleaner, and to also facilitate subsequent disposition of the lint and other light material, novel means are provided for wiping the lint from the upper surface of the filter 37, either continuously or intermittently, during travel of the traveling cleaner. To this end, I have provided at least one wiper element 81 which is shown in the form of an elongate brush extending from one side to the other of the upper surface of filter 37 and being suitably secured to a pair of endless pliable elements or belts 82, 83 supported on respective pairs of rollers or pulleys 84, 85 disposed closely adjacent respective side walls 27, 28 of main fan housing 26 and within suction compartment 36. The front pulleys 84, 85 are mounted on a shaft 86, and the rear pulleys 84, 85 are mounted on a shaft 87. Shafts 86, 87 may be journaled in side,

walls 26, 28, but are shown journaled in suitable bearings 90 which may be carried by the frame of filter 37 or by side walls 27, 28.

In order to drive pulleys 84, 85 and the respective belts 82, 83, the rear shaft 87 has one end of a suitable flexible cable or Bowden wire 90 attached thereto, whose other end is connected to the shaft on which one of the carriage wheels or rollers 20 is loosely mounted. As is clearly shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 12 of said US. Patent No. 2,011,763, the shafts on which pulleys 20 are mounted may each rotate continuously in one direction during movement of the traveling cleaner in either direction along trackway 10, so that wiper element 81 may be driven in one direction throughout operation of the traveling cleaner.

Referring to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be observed that the upper portion of the front end wall 33 is normally open and the front upper portions of side walls 27, 28 extend forwardly to support a collection chamber 92 which extends downwardly, forwardly of the blowing compartment 35, and is provided with a discharge or egress opening 93 at the lower end thereof which is normally closed by a door means 94. It will be observed in FIGURE 4 that the discharge opening 93 is of substantially lesser width, with respect to the lateral axis of the traveling cleaner, than the bottom wall of the collection chamber 92 and, preferably, an inclined false bottom or platform 96 extends upwardly from one edge of the egress opening 93 to the opposite side wall of the collection chamber 92. Thus, as the brush or wiper element 81 moves in a clockwise direction in FIGURES 4 and 5, lint and other light material collected upon filter 37 falls off the front end of the frame of filter 37 and is deposited upon the inclined false bottom 96 and the normally closed door means 94.

Means are provided for automatically opening door means 94 to empty the contents of collection chamber 92 into a receptacle 100 which is preferably stationary. In this instance, trackway 10 is double-ended and receptacle 100 is suitably supported adjacent the front end of trackway 10. The receptacle 100 may be in the form of a closed container whose upper wall is provided with an opening 101 which preferably corresponds in size to the egress opening 93 of collection chamber 92.

The front wall of receptacle 100 is preferably provided with a door 102 to facilitate subsequent removal of the contents of the stationary receptacle 100 from time to time. Of course, if so desired, receptacle 100 may be connected to a suitable suction conduit system for carrying the lint and other light material deposited therein from the traveling collection chamber 92 to points remote from the textile machines 11.

In order to open door means 94 of collection chamber 92, it will be observed in FIGURE 6 that one side edge of door means 94 is hingedly connected, as at 103, to one side wall of the collection chamber 92, this particular side wall being formed as a portion of the side wall 27 of the main fan housing 26. In order to operate the door means 94, it is provided with an extension 104 to which an arm 105 is fixedly connected. The free end of arm 105 has a roller or cam follower 106 mounted thereon.

As carriage approaches the front end of trackway 10, follower 106 engages a fixed cam plate 107 which is of sinuous form so that movement of follower. 106 in engagement therewith moves door 94 to open position. A suitable spring 110 assists in returning door means 94 to closed position during reverse movement of the traveling cleaner and during corresponding movement of the follower 106 out of engagement with the cam 107. The weight of follower 106 and arm 105 also assist in closing door means 94.

In order to assist in removing and discharging lint and other light material from the collection chamber 92 whenever door means 94 is opened, means are provided for closing off communication between the suction compartment 36 and collection chamber 92, and for directing a blast of air into the collection chamber. It will be observed in FIGURE 4 that the means for closing off communication between suction compartment 36 and collection chamber 92 comprises a curved closure member, valve or gate 110 which is normally positioned adjacent the front wall of collection chamber 92 and at the upper portion thereof.

Gate 110 is fixed to a shaft 111 journaled in the upper front portions of side walls 27, 28, and one end thereof has a crank 112 fixed thereon to which the upper end of a link 113 is pivotally connected. Link 113 preferably has a tension spring 114 interposed therein, and the lower end of link 113 is connected to one side of door means 94, as at 115. Thus, as door means 94 swings downwardly in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIGURE 4, it is apparent that gate 110 is moved to closed position so that its lower portion moves against the frame of filter 37, thus substantially closing the upper end of collection chamber 92 with respect to the suction compartment 36.

Also, when the door means 94 is moved to open position, compressed air is admitted into the collection chamber 92 through an opening or slot 116 formed in that portion of side wall 28 defining collection chamber 92 and immediately above the uppermost portion of the inclined false bottom 96. To this end, it will be observed that the front portion of a conduit 120 communicates with slot 116, and this conduit 120 extends rearwardly and is communicatively connected to an auxiliary blowing chamher 121 which is closed With the exception of communicating with the main blowing chamber 35 through an opening 122 formed in the bottom wall 32 of main fan housing 26.

Conduit 120 has a butterfly valve 124 journaled therein, whose shaft 125 projects outwardly from conduit 120 and has a crank 126 fixed thereon. Crank 126 is normally urged upwardly, to urge valve 12.4 to closed position, by a spring 127.

A pliable cable 130 is connected to the free end of crank 126, extends downwardly beneath and in engagement with a pulley 131 suitably journaled on the side wall 28, and then extends inwardly and is connected, as at 132 (FIGURE 4'), to the opposite side edge'of the door means 94 from that to which link 113 is connected.

Cable 130 preferably has a tension spring 133 inter-' posed therein so that, when valve 124 has been moved to fully open position with downward movement of door means 94, door means 94 may be extended to fully opened position while valve 124 remains stationary. In order to limit the movement of valve 124, a suitable stop member or abutment 134 may be provided within conduit 120 which abutment is engaged by the butterfly valve 124.

It is apparent that, since impeller '25 rotates continuously and directs air downwardly and outwardly, whenever butterfly valve 124 is opened in the manner heretofore described, air flows through the auxiliary blowing chamber 121, through conduit and through opening 116 and thus flows into the collection chamber 92. It is thus seen that, each time the traveling cleaner approaches the end of each forward movement thereof, door 115 is opened automatically, gate 110 is closed, and valve 124 is opened so that a blast of air is directed into'the chamber along the upper surface of the inclined false bottom 96 to assist in removing the collected lint and other light material from the collection chamber 92, from whence it falls through opening 101 into the stationary receptacle 100. It is apparent that gate 110 is provided so that the blast of air flowing through opening 116 does not reduce the effectiveness of the suction created in the suction compartment 36.

As heretofore stated, the gear housing 16 of carriage 15 contains a driving and reversing mechanism for the wheels 20, 22 of carriage 15, and which reversing mechanism is operated by shifting rod 23, as disclosed in said US. Patent No. 2,011,763. In order to move shifting rod 23 relative to carriage 15 at the end of each stroke of carriage 15, each end of trackway 10 is provided with an abutment 135, only one of which is shown in FIGURE 5, which is engagedby the corresponding end of shifting rod 23 so that further movement of carriage 15 causes shifting rod 23 to move in the opposite direction from that of the direction of movement of carriage 15, thus reversing the direction of travel of the traveling cleaner.

Second Embodiment of the Invention The second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 has many parts which are similar to those parts of the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. Therefore, where applicable,

the parts shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 shall bear the same reference characters as like parts shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, with the small letter a afiixed thereto, in

7 if desired. Further, the structure of FIGURES 7 and 8 includes door opening and closing means for the collection chamber and the suction compartment, which differ from the structure shown in FIGURES 1 through 6, and which will now be described in detail.

It will be observed in FIGURES 7 and 8 that the discharge opening 93a for collection chamber 92a extends throughout the width of collection chamber 92a, and door means 94a is hingedly connected, as at 103a, to the rear wall of collection chamber 92a. Hinge pin 93a has a crank 140 which projects outwardly with respect to door means 94a and has a follower 141 thereon.

During normal travel of the traveling cleaner, the weight of crank arm 140 and follower 141 is sufficient to maintain door means 94a in the closed position shown inFIGURE 7. If so desired, a suitable spring, such as a torsion spring 142, may be provided to assist in maintaining the door means 94a in closed position. The front end of trackway 10a has a stop or abutment 144 projecting upwardly therefrom and disposed in the path of travel of follower 141.

Now, as the traveling cleaner moves forwardly, from right to left in FIGURES 7 and 8, with the door means 94a in the normally closed position, the follower 141 engages abutment 144, thus swinging door means 94a to the open position, as shown in FIGURE 8,'for emptying the contents thereof into the stationary receptacle 100a. As the abutment 144 is engaged by follower 141, shifting rod 23a engages abutment a to reverse the direction of movement of the traveling cleaner as door means 94:: reaches fully opened position.

As is the case in the firstembodiment of the invention, gate means is provided for closing the upper end of collection chamber 92: each time door means 94:: is opened. In this instance, said gate means comprises a pair of gates, valves or closure members 145, 146 whose distal edges are suitably secured to respective hinge rods or shafts 147, 148 carried by the front and rear walls of collection chamber 92a and disposed on substantially the same level as filter 37a. The hinge shafts 147, 148 are suitably journaled in side walls 27a, 23a, and corresponding ends thereof extend through wall 28a and have respective cranks 151, 152 fixed thereon and projecting outwardly therefrom.

Pliable cables or cords 153, 154 are connected to the cranks 151, 152. The cables pass beneath respective pulleys 155, 156, then pass inwardly toward each other and over respective pulleys 157, 158. Pullleys 155-158 may be suitably supported and journaled on side wall 280. Cables 153, 154 extend downwardly from pulleys 157, 158 and are suitably connected to one side edge of door means 94a, as at 160. Cables 153, 154 may be interconnected in the form of a single cable, if desired.

It is apparent that, when door means 94a is swung from closed to open position, the cables 153, 154 are pulled downwardly therewith, thus swinging the gates 145, 146 from the opened position of FIGURE 7 to the closed position of FIGURE 8, thus closing the suction compartment 36a with respect to the collection chamber 92a. The weight of gates 145, 146 may be suflicient to return them to open position whenever door means 94a is returned to closed position, although suitable spring means may be provided for this purpose, if desired, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In FIGURES 7 and 8, it will be noted that, instead of providing means for connecting blowing conduits to opposed sides of the main fan housing for communication with the blowing compartment, the lower rear portion of main fan housing 26a is provided with one or more air outlets 165 which are connected to rear wall 34a of housing 26a for communciation with blowing compartment 35a. As shown in FIGURE 8, outlets 165 may terminate above the level of trackway a, although it is to be understood that they may also be provided with blowing tubes of substantially the type disclosed with respect to the first embodiment of the invention.

There may be instances in which the size of the suction tubes communicating with suction compartment 36a, or with the suction compartment of any of the embodiments of the invention, may undesirably restrict the inward flow of air through the screen or filter 37a and through the blowing compartment. Accordingly, the second embodiment of the invention includes a regulator valve construction (FIGURES 7 and 8) broadly designated at 167 and which is shown in the form of a plate or valve member 170 guided for sliding movement against the upper surface of top wall 31a by suitable guide members or angle clips 171. The top wall 31a of main fan housing 26a has an elongate transversely extending slot or opening 173 therein and over which the valve plate 170 may be moved to regulate the effective size of the slot or opening 173. Thus, in the event that the amount of air which may flow through main fan housing 261: is too restricted, valve member 170 may then be moved to increase the size of the opening 173, as desired.

The remaining parts of the second embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 may be identical to or substantially the same as corresponding parts of the first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES 1 through 6. Therefore, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Third Embodiment of the Invention Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10, a third embodiment of the invention is shown in which the manifold of the first and second embodiments of the invention is omitted,

and means are provided to assist in supporting the belts which support the wiper element or brush. Further, the suction conduits are connected to the main fan housing in a manner somewhat different from that disclosed with respect to the first and second embodiments of the invention. In all other respects, the traveling cleaner of Fi URES 9 and 10 may be identical to or substantially the same as the traveling cleaner of FIGURES 1 through 6 and, therefore, those parts in FIGURES 9 and 10 which correspond to parts shown in FIGURES 1 through 6 shall bear the same reference characters with the small letter b added, in order to avoid repetitive description.

The top wall 31b of the main fan housing 26b in FIG- URES 9 and 10 need not have an opening therein for ingress of air from the suction conduits. However, the top wall 31b is equipped with a regulator valve mechanism 1167b which may be identical to the regulator valve 167 of FIGURES 7 and 8. Accordingly, the valve member 170b, guides 171b and opening 173b of FIGURE 9 correspond to the valve member 170, guides 171 and opening 173 of FIGURE 8.

Since the traveling cleaner of FIGURES 9 and 10 is devoid of a manifold such as that indicated at 41 in FIGURE 1, conduits 180, 181 are connected to and extend through opposed side walls 27b, 28b of main fan housing 26b for communication with suction compartment 36b. Although suction conduits 180, 181 may be the same as suction conduits 45, 46, 47 of FIGURE 1, their upper ends in FIGURES 9 and 10 are shown in the form of flared, elongate and relatively narrow hollow members whose proximal or inner portions are disposed between the upper and lower runs of the respective endless belts 82b, 83b. The proximal portions of the conduits 180, 181 within suction compartment 36b are preferably of the same vertical height or thickness as the diameter of the pulleys 84b, 85b to thus assist in supporting the upper and lower runs of the belts 82b, 83b between the respective pulleys 84b, 85b.

In all other respects, the structure shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 may be the same as the structures shown in FIG- URES 1-6 and, therefore, a detailed description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Fourth Embodiment of the Invention Referring to FIGURE 11, a fourth embodiment of the invention is shown which, with the exception of the means for driving the wiper element or brush for the filter, is identical to the first embodiment of the invention and, therefore, those parts in FIGURE 11 corresponding to like parts in FIGURES 1 through 6 shall bear the same reference characters with the small letter 0 added, in order to avoid repetitive description.

In the first three embodiments of the invention, the

wiper element for cleaning the filter is moved continuously. If so desired, the wiper element of each of said three embodiments of the invention may be moved intermittently, by means of the mechanism shown in FIGURE 11, and which will now be described in detail.

As disclosed in said U.S. Patent No. 2,011,763, the shaft on which the front wheels of carriage 15 are mounted rotate continuously in one direction while the rear shaft, on which the rear wheels of the carriage are loosely mounted rotates continuously in the opposite direction. Accordingly, it will be observed in FIGURE 11 that the front shaft 189 on which corresponding wheel 220 is mounted, has a crank 190 fixed thereon which has an eccentric pin 191 projecting outwardly therefrom. As crank 190 rotates with shaft 189, it moves into engagement with successive arms 192 of a spider wheel 193 journaled on one side of carriage 150. Spider wheel 193 has one end of a flexible cable or Bowden wire 194 connected thereto and whose other end is connected to the shaft 87 on which the rear roller 84c is fixedly mounted.

arms 192 of spider wheel 193, this transmits rotation from 9 the continuously rotating crank 190 to spider wheel 193 which, in turn, impart-s intermittent or step-by-step rotation to the belts which movethe wiper element or brush 81c.

It is thus seen that I have provided several embodiments of a novel traveling cleaning apparatus for textile machines and floors therebeneath in which lint and other light material is conveyed from the various parts of the machines and from the floor into a suction compartment, where it is deposited upon a filter as the air passes through the filter. Also, it is seen that I have provided a novel means for cleaning the filter by wiping the lint and other light material off the filter and into a collection chamber adjacent one side or one end of the filter, along with means for automatically opening and closing the filter for emptying the contents thereof into a stationary receptacle at the predetermined intervals.

It is seen further that I have provided means whereby the wiper element may move continuously or intermittently across the upper surface of the filter and wherein I have also provided means for closing the suction compartment with respect to the collection chamber whenever the collection chamber is opened for emptying the contents therefrom. Further, it is seen that -I have provided means for admitting forced air into the collection chamber from the blowing compartment of the traveling cleaner whenever the door means of the collection chamber is opened for emptying the contents therefrom.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In an overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textile mills, said cleaner having a fan, at least one suction inlet communicating with said fan, and a suction conduit communicating with said inlet and extending to a area to be cleaned; the combination therewith of a filter interposed between said conduit and said fan for entrapping thereagainst dust, lint and other light material drawn into said conduit, a wiper element engageable with said filter, means moving said wiper element for wiping the material from said filter, a chamber for receiving the material wiped from the filter, and means for opening said chamber to remove collected material therefrom.

2. 'In an overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textile mills, said cleaner having a fan, at least one suction inlet communicating with said fan, and a suction conduit communicating with said inlet and extending to a area to be cleaned; the combination therewith of a filter interposed between said conduit and said fan for entrapping thereagainst dust, lint and other light material drawn into said conduit, a wiper element engageable with said filter, means moving said wiper element for wiping the material from said filter, a chamber for receiving the material wiped from the filter, a receptacle disposed adjacent the path of travel of said chamber, and means for periodically transferring material from said chamber to said receptacle.

3. In an overhead, rail mounted traveling suction cleaner for textile mills, said cleaner having a fan, at least one suction inlet communicating with said fan, and a suction conduit communicating with said inlet and extending to an area to be cleaned; the combination therewith of a filter interposed between said conduit and said fan for entrapping thereagainst dust, lint and other light material drawn into said conduit, a wiper element engage able with said filter, means moving said wiper element for wiping the material from said filter, a chamber for receiving the material wiped from the filter, a receptacle disposed adjacent the path of travel of said chamber, means for periodically transferring material from said chamber into said receptacle, and means for directing air under pressure into said chamber at least during the transfer of said material to assist in transferring said material from said chamber into said receptacle.

4. A traveling combination suction and blowing cleaner for textile machines movable along a track located above textile machines, said cleaner comprising a fan housing, a filter separating said fan housing into a suction compartment and a blowing compartment, a rotary fan in said blowing compartment, first conduit means communicating with the blowing compartment and extending downwardly toward parts of the machines to be cleaned, second conduits communicatively connected to said suction compartment and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent the machines, at least one of said second conduits terminating closely adjacent the floor upon which rests the machines whereby lint and other light material is blown off the machines by the first conduit means and sucked away from the floor and machines by the second conduits and conveyed into the suction compartment and against the filter, and means movable in engagement with said filter for wiping lint and other light material from said filter.

5. A traveling combination suction and blowing cleaner for textile machines movable along a" track located above textile machines, said cleaner comprising a fan housing, a filter separating said fan housing into a suction compartment and a blowing compartment, a rotary fan in said blowing compartment, first conduit means communicating with the blowing compartment and extending downwardly toward parts of the machines to be cleaned, second conduits communicatively connected to said suction compartment and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent the machines, at least one of said second conduits terminating closely adjacent the floor upon which rests the machines whereby lint and other light material is blown off the machines by the first conduit means and sucked away from the fioor and machines by the second conduits and conveyed into the suction compartment and against the filter, and means movable in engagement with said filter for wiping lint and other light material from said filter, a collection chamber movable with said traveling cleaner for receiving lint and other light material wiped from said filter, normally closed door means on said collection chamber, and means operable at spaced intervals for opening said door means to empty the contents from said collection chamber.

6. A structure according to claim 5 including means for directing a blast of air into the collection chamber when said closure means occupies closed position.

7. A structure according to claim 5 including means establishing communication between said blowing compartment and said collection chamber, normally closed valve means interposed in said last-named means, and means automatically operable upon opening said door means for opening said valve means to thereby direct air from the blowing compartment into the collection chamber.

8. A structure according to claim 5 including a regulator valve carried by said housing and establishing communication between the suction compartment and the atmosphere, and means for adjusting said regulator valve to control the amount of air entering said suction cornpartment.

9. A structure according to claim 5 including a stationary receptacle disposed adjacent the path of travel of said traveling cleaner for receiving the contents emptied from said collection chamber.

10. A structure according to'claim 5 wherein said collection chamber communicates directly with said suction compartment, normally open closure means interposed'between said suction compartment and said collection chamber, and means to close said closure means to prevent communication between the suction compartment and the collection chamber when said door means is opened.

11. A structure according to claim 10 including means for directing a blast of air into the collection chamber when said closure means occupies closed position.

12. A structure according to claim 10 including means establishing communication between said blowing compartment and said collection chamber, normally closed valve means interposed in said last-named means, and means automatically operable upon opening said door means for opening said valve means to thereby direct air from said blowing compartment into the collection chamber.

13. In a traveling suction cleaner for textile machines movable along a track located above textile machines, said cleaner comprising a fan housing; the combination of a filter separating said fan housing into a suction compartment and a blowing compartment, a rotary fan in said blowing compartment, conduit means communicatively connected to said suction compartment and extending downwardly therefrom adjacent the machine, said conduit means including at least one conduit terminating closely adjacent the floor upon which rests the machines whereby lint and other light material is sucked away from the floor by the said conduit and conveyed into the suc 12 tion compartment and against the filter, means movable in engagement with said filter for wiping lint and other light material from said filter, a normally closed collection chamber communicating with said suction compartment for receiving lint from said filter, and means to periodically open said chamber to empty the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

